Brady letter 'may be a ruse'

Detectives are investigating "the possibility" the Moors murderer Ian Brady has revealed in letter about where one of his victims is buried, but do not know if it is "simply a ruse". His legal advocate has been released on bail after being arrested.

No-one can verify the contents of the envelope and therefore what information it does or does not contain but given the enormity of the implications as suggested by Brady's letter, we felt we had a responsibility to inform the family via their family liaison officer.

Winnie's poor health was foremost in our decision-making and this is why we have decided to bring forward the broadcast of the film and make the existence of the envelope public.

"Following Brady's seizure and the subsequent indefinite postponement of his mental health tribunal, she discloses, on camera, some startling information that appears to present further important evidence of Brady's ongoing attempts to assert power over the victims' families."

The film, called 'Ian Brady: Endgames of a Psychopath', will be broadcast on Monday at 9pm.

Ian Brady's mental health advocate, Jackie Powell, has told Sky News that her words have been "misrepresented" and "blown out of all proportion".

Powell, 49, is reported to have told a television production company that Brady gave her a letter to give to Winnie Johnson, the mother of his 12-year-old victim Keith Bennett, in the event of his own death.

Powell was arrested by police on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body but she has now been released on bail.